Results - Using this kit, islet autoreactive CD8+ T-cells recognizing insulin B10-18, IA-2797-805 and IGRP265-273 were shown to be frequently detectable in recent onset patients, but rarely in healthy controls; PPI15-24 proved the most sensitive epitope. Applying the ‘Diab-Q-kit’ to samples of islet cell transplantation recipients allowed detection of changes of autoreactive T-cell frequencies against multiple islet cell derived epitopes that was associated with disease activity and correlated with clinical outcome.

Conclusions - A kit was developed that allows simultaneous detection of CD8+ T-cells reactive to multiple HLA-A2-restricted beta cell epitopes requiring limited amounts of blood, without a need for in vitro culture, that is applicable on stored blood samples.